In a photo provided by the Douglas County (Colo.) Sheriff's Department, Tom Heckert, the Denver Broncos' new director of pro personnel, appears in a photo after he was arrested on June 11, 2013, and charged with driving under the influence and careless driving. Another Broncos executive, Matt Russell, was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Suspensions, fines and punishment may help simmer the public outrage over two Broncos executives arrested for DUI. But there is more to consider in the cases of Broncos executives Matt Russell and Tom Heckert.

The Broncos may have preferred to mete out punishment Tuesday, but first they consulted with the NFL. There is a process involved. There are medical evaluations that must be conducted.

The Broncos, who have said publicly that the punishment would be severe, are not providing a timetable as to when Russell, 40, and Heckert, 45 -- the top two assistants to football operations boss John Elway -- will be disciplined, but it may take up to a week.

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"This is bigger than football," team spokesman Patrick Smyth said Wednesday. "It's obviously very serious. We need to make sure we handle this the right way and give careful consideration to all of the issues involved. That process takes time."

Heckert, hired in early May as the Broncos' director of pro personnel, was cited for DUI on June 11 in Parker.

According to records, he was stopped after "striking the median and almost hit the stop light," the sheriff's report said.

Heckert blew a 0.162 on a breath test upon his release nearly seven hours after his arrest, according to official documents, more than twice the legal limit.

The Broncos had their final minicamp session June 13, after which the players, coaches and executives cleared out of team headquarters for their offseason vacation. Players are scheduled to return for training camp July 24.

Heckert might receive penalties similar to the 30-day suspension and $100,000 fine the league imposed on Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand in 2010 for his driving while impaired conviction.

Russell's punishment figures to be more severe. Promoted a year ago to director of player personnel, Russell was arrested Saturday evening after he rammed his Toyota Tundra truck into a parked Breckenridge Police Department patrol vehicle at approximately 40 miles per hour, according to an arrest affidavit prepared by the Colorado State Patrol. According to the affidavit, Russell's breath alcohol content measured at 0.246 -- more than three times the legal limit. He had an open bottle of peppermint schnapps in his truck.

Russell and Heckert have expressed remorse in statements. Team president Joe Ellis said Tuesday his "expectation is the discipline will be severe."

Harvey Steinberg, the attorney who represents both Russell and Heckert, had no comment Wednesday.